Blackstone and Saudi Arabia’s Humain Launch USD 3 Billion AI Data-Centre Partnership
Blackstone-backed AirTrunk teams with PIF-owned Humain to build large-scale data-centre campus in Saudi Arabia as AI infrastructure push accelerates
A landmark agreement has been inked between Blackstone-backed AirTrunk and Saudi Arabia’s state-backed AI champion HUMAIN for an initial USD 3 billion investment to develop and operate a hyperscale data-centre campus in the Kingdom.
The deal, announced at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, marks a bold step in Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global leader in artificial-intelligence infrastructure.
Under the partnership, Humain—a company established in May by the Public Investment Fund (PIF)—will leverage its national mandate to build AI-ready infrastructure, while AirTrunk will bring its global expertise in hyperscale data-centre operations.
Blackstone, as AirTrunk’s majority backer, has described this as part of its key thematic focus on AI and digital infrastructure.
The speculative nature of large-scale data infrastructure deals underscores both the technological imperative and the scale of capital required in the AI era.
HUMAIN’s Chief Executive Officer, Tareq Amin, termed the partnership a “pivotal moment” in creating “scalable, secure and sustainable data-centre capacity to support the rapid growth of AI and cloud computing.” He also indicated that the venture could expand to include other major investors such as BlackRock, KKR and DigitalBridge.
Blackstone Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Schwarzman, emphasised that the deal deepens his firm’s presence in the Middle East and underscores its conviction in the AI and data-centre sector.
He noted that while the investment theme is compelling, power-supply constraints remain an industry headwind.
HUMAIN has set a target of reaching 1.9 gigawatts of data-centre capacity by 2030 and establishing Saudi Arabia as the world’s third-largest provider of AI infrastructure behind the United States and China.
This venture aligns with the Kingdom’s broader economic-diversification agenda under Vision 2030, where technology, data-economy and investment in high-tech infrastructure are key pillars.
Although the exact locations of the data-centre campus, the chip-vendors to be used or the detailed capacity numbers have not been disclosed, observers note the move signals how sovereign wealth and private-equity capital are converging around AI infrastructure in the Gulf region.
The arrangement positions Saudi Arabia as a strategic nexus for AI and data-services expansion, and marks Blackstone’s entry into the Middle East data-centre market at scale.
Industry monitors will now watch how the partnership executes on build-out, secures hyperscaler clients, handles energy-intensity and delivers operational performance.
If successfully scaled, the venture could reshape the regional data-centre landscape and accelerate Saudi Arabia’s role in the global AI infrastructure race.
The deal, announced at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, marks a bold step in Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global leader in artificial-intelligence infrastructure.
Under the partnership, Humain—a company established in May by the Public Investment Fund (PIF)—will leverage its national mandate to build AI-ready infrastructure, while AirTrunk will bring its global expertise in hyperscale data-centre operations.
Blackstone, as AirTrunk’s majority backer, has described this as part of its key thematic focus on AI and digital infrastructure.
The speculative nature of large-scale data infrastructure deals underscores both the technological imperative and the scale of capital required in the AI era.
HUMAIN’s Chief Executive Officer, Tareq Amin, termed the partnership a “pivotal moment” in creating “scalable, secure and sustainable data-centre capacity to support the rapid growth of AI and cloud computing.” He also indicated that the venture could expand to include other major investors such as BlackRock, KKR and DigitalBridge.
Blackstone Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Schwarzman, emphasised that the deal deepens his firm’s presence in the Middle East and underscores its conviction in the AI and data-centre sector.
He noted that while the investment theme is compelling, power-supply constraints remain an industry headwind.
HUMAIN has set a target of reaching 1.9 gigawatts of data-centre capacity by 2030 and establishing Saudi Arabia as the world’s third-largest provider of AI infrastructure behind the United States and China.
This venture aligns with the Kingdom’s broader economic-diversification agenda under Vision 2030, where technology, data-economy and investment in high-tech infrastructure are key pillars.
Although the exact locations of the data-centre campus, the chip-vendors to be used or the detailed capacity numbers have not been disclosed, observers note the move signals how sovereign wealth and private-equity capital are converging around AI infrastructure in the Gulf region.
The arrangement positions Saudi Arabia as a strategic nexus for AI and data-services expansion, and marks Blackstone’s entry into the Middle East data-centre market at scale.
Industry monitors will now watch how the partnership executes on build-out, secures hyperscaler clients, handles energy-intensity and delivers operational performance.
If successfully scaled, the venture could reshape the regional data-centre landscape and accelerate Saudi Arabia’s role in the global AI infrastructure race.
